asy United States
`a2) Patent Application Publication co) Pub. No.: US 2002/0140743 Al
`(43) Pub. Date: Oct. 3, 2002
`
`DeLucaet al.
`
`US 20020140743A1
`
`(54) SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING A
`SERVER CONTROL INTERFACE
`
`Publication Classification
`
`(75)
`
`Inventors: Steve A. DeLuca, Woodinville, WA
`(US); Paul B. Darcy, Redmond, WA
`(US); Casey L. Kiernan, Kirkland, WA
`(US); Sally J. Martin, Redmond, WA
`(US); Juhan Lee, Issaquah, WA (US);
`Kevin A. Hodge, Bellevue, WA (US);
`Jeffrey P. Snover, Woodinville, WA
`(US)
`
`Correspondence Address:
`CHRISTENSEN, O’CONNOR, JOHNSON,
`KINDNESS, PLLC
`1420 FIFTH AVENUE
`SUITE 2800
`
`SEATTLE, WA 98101-2347 (US)
`
`Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
`
`Appl. No.:
`
`09/824,484
`
`Filed:
`
`Mar. 30, 2001
`
`(SL) UntC0 oa ccccsssssssssssentensenseestnstne GO6F 3/00
`(52) US. Cle
`vescsscsssssssssunsscssnsressenee 345/835; 345/735
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`A method and system for providing a computing device
`control
`interface are provided. A system administrator
`accesses a graphical user interface and selects a group of
`actions that are to be executed by a number of computing
`devices. The actions selected by the system administratorare
`embodied in a graphical action icon and displayed on the
`graphical user interface. The system administrator initiates
`the actions by manipulating the action icon such thatit
`overlaps a computer icon, which embodies one or more
`computing devices within the network that will execute the
`selected actions. The computing device icon is also dis-
`played on the user interface. The userinterface executes the
`selected action on the selected computer and then generates
`an archive file embodying the execution of the selected
`actions on the selected group of computing devices. Accord-
`ingly, multiple computing devices may be controlled by a
`single
`
`
`
`
`‘Configuration
`
`
`
`ction navel DatabaseCollection £
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`Google Exhibit 1109
`Google v. VirtaMove
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`Google Exhibit 1109
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`

`

`Oct. 3, 2002 Sheet 1 of 9
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`Patent Application Publication
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`Oct. 3, 2002 Sheet 2 of 9
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`200
`
`202
`
`204.
`
`206
`
`208
`
`210
`
`INTERFACE PROCESS
`
` START SERVER CONTROL
`PARAMETERS
`
`OBTAIN ONE OR MORE
`SERVER CONTROL
`
`GENERATE AN ACTION ICON
`CORRESPONDINGTO SELECTED
`SERVER CONTROL PARAMETERS
`
`
`
`OBTAIN A SERVER GROUP
`SELECTION
`
`INITIATE THE EXECUTION OF THE
`SELECTED SERVER CONTROL
`PARAMETERSON THE SELECTED
`
`SERVER GROUP
`SERVER GROUP
`
`GENERATE AN EXECUTABLEFILE
`CORRESPONDINGTHE SELECTED
`ACTION AND THE SELECTED
`
`Fig.2.
`
`END
`
`212
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`

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`Patent Application Publication
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`Patent Application Publication
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`Oct. 3, 2002 Sheet 9 of 9
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`US 2002/0140743 Al
`
`Oct. 3, 2002
`
`SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING A
`SERVER CONTROL INTERFACE
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`
`In general, the present application relates to com-
`[0001]
`puter software, and in particular, to a system and method for
`controlling a numberof servers by manipulating a common
`interface.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`can
`computer networks
`[0002] Generally described,
`include a collection of a number of computers, such as
`server computer systems, to perform various functions. In
`one application, a large computer network can include more
`than one thousand networked server computers. Such a
`computer network is generally referred to as an enterprise
`network.
`
`In sometypical enterprise networks, several of the
`[0003]
`server computer systems may be remote from one another.
`For example, a corporation may maintain an enterprise
`network in which a set of server computer systems are
`located in North America, a set of server computer systems
`are located in Asia and another set of server computer
`systems are located in Europe.
`In one aspect, a system
`administrator can manage each individual server computer
`by utilizing an attached display and keyboard/mouse. How-
`ever, as will be easily understood by one skilled in the
`relevant art, managing an enterprise network by individually
`manipulating each server is extremely inefficient, if not
`impossible. For example, it would be very difficult for a
`single system administrator to implement a simultaneous
`change requiring a manipulation of each server’s input
`devices on all multiple server computers within an enterprise
`network, especially if the server computers were remote
`from one another.
`
`[0004] To mitigate the need for individually manipulating
`each individual server computer, some enterprise networks
`utilize a centralized control to remotely manage each indi-
`vidual server in the enterprise network. For example, some
`enterprise networks utilize a graphical control in which
`individual servers are managed by manipulating a graphical
`user interface (“GUI”). In such an embodiment, each server
`is represented as individual graphical icons within the GUI.
`Accordingly, the individual server icon may be selected by
`the system administrator to display various server properties
`and/or to allow the system administrator to mange server
`from the centralized control.
`
`[0005] While a commonuserinterface facilitates central-
`ized control of a group of servers, the conventional approach
`remains deficient for situations in which a commonactionis
`
`to be implemented in a number of servers within the
`enterprise network. For example, a system administrator
`may wish to initialize one or more capacity planning mea-
`sures in each of the database servers within an enterprise
`network. In the conventional centralized control GUI, the
`system administrator would then have to individually sclect
`each of the database servers and then issue and activate the
`measurement through the centralized user interface. Addi-
`tionally, if the system administrator would wantto slightly
`modify the measurement or repeat the same set of capacity
`planning measurement at a different time, the entire initial-
`ization process may have to be repeated for cach of the
`
`servers. Accordingly, this deficiency is further accentuated
`for larger scale enterprise networks.
`
`[0006] Thus, there is a need for a system and method for
`implementing a server control interface that allows that
`facilitates the implementation of common tasks across a
`server or group ofservers.
`
`SUMMARYOF THE INVENTION
`
`[0007] A method and system for providing a computing
`device control interface are provided. A system administra-
`tor accesses a graphical uscr interface and selects a group of
`actions that are to be executed by a number of computing
`devices. The actions selected by the system administrator are
`embodied in a graphical action icon and displayed on the
`graphical user interface. The system administrator initiates
`the actions by manipulating the action icon such that it
`overlaps a computing device icon, which embodies one or
`more computing devices within the network that will
`execute the selected actions. The computing device icon is
`also displayed on the user interface. The user interface
`executes the selected action on the selected computing
`devices and then generates an archive file embodying the
`selected actions on the selected group of computing devices
`for re-execution. Accordingly, multiple computing devices
`may be controlled by a single manipulation of the graphical
`icons with the user interface of the present invention and/or
`the executable file.
`
`In an aspect of the present invention, a method of
`[0008]
`providing a computing device control interface is provided.
`The computing device control interface displays a set of
`graphical action icons for selection by a user. Each action
`icon is representative of one or moreactions to be executed
`by a computing device. The computing device interface
`displays a set of graphical computing device icons. Lach
`graphical icon is representative of one or more computing
`devices. The computing device control interface obtains a
`selection of an action icon and a selection of a computing
`device icon. The computing device control interface then
`instructs each computing device represented by the selected
`computing device icon to execute the instructions repre-
`sented by the selected action icon.
`
`invention, a
`In another aspect of the present
`[0009]
`method of providing a computing device controlinterface in
`a computer system having a display and at least one graphi-
`cal user interface selection device is provided. The computer
`system obtains an identification of a group of actions to be
`executed by a computing device and displays the group of
`action as an action icon on the display. The computer system
`obtains an identification of a group of computing, devices to
`be controlled and displays the group of servers as a com-
`puting device icon on the display. The computer system
`obtains a selection of the action icon by the selection device
`and instructs each computing device represented by the
`computing device icon ta execute the groups of actions
`represented bythe action upon a selection of the computing
`device icon with the user interface device.
`
`invention, a
`In a further aspect of the present
`[0010]
`method for providing a computing device control interface
`in a computer system having a display and graphical user
`interface selection device is provided. The computer system
`obtains an identification of a number of actions to be
`
`executed by a computing device and displays the number of
`
`

`

`US 2002/0140743 Al
`
`Oct. 3, 2002
`
`actions on the display screen. The computer system obtains
`a selection of one or moreofa set of the actions by the user
`interface selection device and generates a graphical icon
`corresponding to the set of actions selected by the user
`interface selection device. The computer system displays the
`graphical icon on the display screen.
`
`In yet another aspect of the present invention, a
`[0011]
`computer-readable medium having computer-executable
`components for providing a computing device control inter-
`face is provided. The computer-readable medium includes
`an action icon creating component for creating an action
`icon corresponding to a numberofuser selected actions. The
`computer-readable medium also includes a server icon com-
`ponent for creating a computing device icon corresponding
`to a numberof that will execute the numberof userselected
`actions corresponding to a selected action icon.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`[0012] The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant
`advantages of this invention will become more readily
`appreciated as the same become better understood by ref-
`erence to the following detailed description, when taken in
`conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
`
`[0013] FIG. 1 is a block diagramillustrative of an enter-
`prise network implementing a commonserver control user
`interface in accordance with the present invention;
`
`[0014] FIG. 2 is a flow diagram illustrative of a server
`control user interface process implemented by a server
`control computer in accordance with the present invention;
`
`{0015] FIG. 3 is an exemplary illustration of a screen
`display for obtaining server control parameters in accar-
`dance with the present invention;
`
`[0016] FIG. 4 is an exemplary illustration of a screen
`display for obtaining server control parameters in accor-
`dance with the present invention;
`
`{0017] FIG. 5 is an exemplary illustration of a screen
`display for obtaining server control parameters in accor-
`dance with the present invention;
`
`[0018] FIG. 6 is an cxcmplary illustration for confirming
`the selection of the server control parameters in accordance
`with the present invention;
`
`[0019] FIG. 7 is an exemplary illustration for obtaining a
`user indication of a set of actions to be performed on a group
`of server computers in accordance with the present inven-
`tion; and
`
`[0020] FIG. 8 is an exemplaryscreen display illustrating
`a drag and drop technique for manipulating a graphical icon
`in accordance with the present invention; and
`
`[0021] FIG. 9 is a block diagram of a computer system
`environment suitable for implementation in the present
`invention.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ‘THE
`PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
`
`[0022] FIG. 9 illustrates an cxample of a suitable com-
`puting system environment in which the invention may be
`implemented. The computing system environment is only
`one example of a suitable computing environmentandis not
`
`intended to suggest any limitation as to the scope of use or
`functionality of the invention. Neither should the computing
`environment be interpreted as having any dependency
`requirement relating to any one or combination of compo-
`nents illustrated in the exemplary operating environment.
`
`[0023] The invention is operational in numerous other
`general purpose or special computing system environments
`or configurations. Examples of well known computing sys-
`tems, environments, and/or configurations that may be suit-
`able for implementing the invention include, but are not
`limited to, personal computers, server computers,
`laptop
`devices, multiprocessor systems, microprocessor-based sys-
`tems, network PCs, minicomputers, mainframe computers,
`distributed computing environments that include any of the
`above systems, or the like. Additional examples of other
`well known computing systems operational with the present
`invention include hand-held devices, wireless devices, and/
`or mobile devices. Moreover, the present invention may also
`be operational
`in a variety of non-traditional computing
`devices having a computing and communication interface
`such as household products (e.g., washing machines, tele-
`vision, refrigerators), business products,fixtures (e.g., lights,
`security systems), and the like.
`
`(0024] The invention may be described in the general
`context of computer-executable instructions, such as pro-
`gram modules, being executed by a computer. Generally,
`program modules include routines, programs, objects, com-
`ponents, data structures,etc. that perform a particular task or
`implementparticular abstract data types. The invention may
`be also practiced in distributed computing environments
`where tasks are performed by remote processing devicesthat
`are linked through a communications network. In a distrib-
`uted computing environment, program modules may be
`located in both local and remote computer storage media,
`including memory storage devices.
`
`[0025] With reference to FIG. 9, an exemplary system for
`implementing the invention includes a general purpose-
`computing device in the form of a computer 20. Components
`of a computer 20 include,but are not limited to, a processing
`unit 22, a system memory 24, and a system bus 26 that
`couples various system components, including the system
`memory, to the processor. The system bus may be any of
`several types of bus structures including a memorybus or
`memorycontroller, peripheral bus, and a local bus using any
`of a variety of bus architectures. By way of example, not
`limitation, such architectures include Industry Standard
`Architecture (ISA) normalcapitalization bus, Micro Chan-
`nel Architecture (MCA) bus, Enhanced ISA (ETSA) bus,
`Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA)local bus,
`and Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus also
`known as a Mezzanine bus.
`
`[0026] The computer 20 typically includes a variety of
`computer-readable media. Computer-readable media can be
`any available media that can be accessed by the computer 20
`and includes both volatile and non-volatile media, remov-
`able and non-removable media. By way of cxample, and not
`limitation, computer-readable media may comprise com-
`puter storage media and communication media. Computer
`storage media includes, but is not limited to, RAM, ROM,
`EEPROM,flash memoryor other memory technology, CD-
`ROM,Digital Versatile Disk (DVD) or other optical disk
`storage, magnetic casscttcs, magnetic tapc, magnetic disk
`
`

`

`US 2002/0140743 Al
`
`Oct. 3, 2002
`
`storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other
`medium which can be usedto store the desired information
`and which can be accessed by the computer 20.
`
`[0027] The communication media typically embodies
`computer-readable instructions, data structures, program
`modules or other data in a modulated data signal such as a
`carrier wave or other transport mechanism and includes any
`information delivery media. The term “modulated data sig-
`nal” meansa signal that has one or moreofits characteristics
`set or changed in such a mannerto encode information in the
`signal. By way of example, and not limitation, communi-
`cation media includes wired media such as a wired network
`or direct wired connection, and wireless media such as
`acoustic, RF, infrared and other wireless media. Combina-
`tions of any of the above should also be included within the
`scope of computer-readable media.
`
`[0028] The system memory 24 includes computer storage
`media in the form of volatile and/or non-volatile memory
`such as read only memory (ROM) 28 and random access
`memory (RAM)30. A basic input/output system 32 (BIOS),
`containing the basic routines that help to transfer informa-
`tion between elements within the computer 20, such as
`during start-up, is typically stored in ROM 28. RAM 30
`typically contains data and/or program modules that are
`immediately accessible to and/or presently being operated
`on by the processing unit 22. By way of example, and not
`limitation, FIG. 9 illustrates an operating system 46, appli-
`cation programs48, other program modules 50, and program
`data 52.
`
`[0029] The computer 20 mayalso include removable/non-
`removable, volatile/nonvolatile computer storage media. By
`way of example only, FIG.9 illustrates a hard disk drive 36
`that reads from or writes to non-removable, non-volatile
`magnetic media 38, a magnetic drive 38 that reads from or
`writes to a removable, non-volatile magnetic disk 40, and an
`optical disk drive 42 that reads from or writes to a remov-
`able, non-volatile optical disk 44, such as CD-ROM orother
`optical media. Other removable/non-removable, volatile/
`non-volatile computer storage media that can be used in the
`exemplary operating environment include, but are not lim-
`ited to, magnetic tape cassettes, flash memory cards, DVD,
`digital video tape, Bernoulli cap cartridges,solid state RAM,
`solid state ROM, and the like. The hard disk drive 34,
`magnetic disk drive 38, and optical disk drive 42 may be
`connected to the system bus 26 by a hard disk drive interface
`54, a magnetic disk drive interface 56, and an optical drive
`interface 58, respectively. Alternatively, the hard disk drive
`34, magnetic disk drive 38, and optical disk drive 42 are
`typically connected to the system bus 26 by a Small Com-
`puter System Interface (SCSI).
`
`[0030] The drives and their associated computer storage
`media discussed above and illustrated in FIG. 9, provide
`storage of computer-readable instructions, data structures,
`program modules and other data for the computer 20. In
`FIG.9, for example, the hard disk drive 34 is illustrated as
`storing the operating system 46, application programs 48,
`other programs 50, and program data 52. Note that these
`components can either be the sameas or different from the
`operating system 46, the other program modules 50, and the
`program data 52. A user may enter commandsand informa-
`tion into the computer 20 through input devices such as a
`keyboard 60 and a pointing device 62, commonly referred to
`
`as a mouse, track ball or touch pad. Other input devices (not
`shown) may include a microphone, a joystick, a game pad,
`a satellite dish, a scanner, or the like. These and other input
`devices are often connected to the processing unit 22
`through user input interface 64 and may be connected by
`other interface and bus structures, such as a parallel port,
`gameport or other universal serial bus (USB).
`
`[0031] The computer 20 may operate in a network envi-
`ronment using logical connections to one or more remote
`computers 65. The remote computer 65 may be a personal
`computer, a server, a router, a network PC, a peer device or
`other common network node, and typically includes many or
`all of the elements described aboverelative to the computer
`20, although only a memory storage device has been illus-
`trated in FIG. 9. The logical connections depicted in FIG.
`9 include a local area network (LAN) 66 and a wide arca
`network (WAN) 67, but also include other networks. Such
`network environments are commonplace in office, enter-
`prise-wide computer networks, intranets, and the Internet. It
`will be appreciated by one skilled in the relevantart that the
`computer 20 may be configured such that at
`least one
`network connection is non-continuous. Accordingly,
`the
`computer 20 would be unable to communicate with the
`remote computer 65 throughout a period of time that the
`network connection is disabled. Such a configuration is
`described generally as an “off-line” configuration.
`
`[0032] When used in a LAN network environment, the
`computer 20 is connected to the LAN 66 through a network
`interface adapter 68. When used in a WAN network envi-
`ronment, the computer typically includes a modem or other
`means for establishing communications over the WAN 68,
`such as the Internet. The modem, which may beinternal or
`external, may be connected to the system bus 26 via the
`serial port interface or other appropriate mechanism. In a
`networked environment, program modules depicted relative
`to the computer 20, or portions thereof, maybe stored in the
`remote memory storage device. By way of example, and not
`limitation, FIG. 9 illustrates remote application programs 48
`as residing on memory device 24. It will be appreciated that
`the network connections shown are exemplary and other
`meansof establishing communication between the comput-
`crs may be used. Although manyother internal components
`of the computer 20 are not shown,those of ordinary skill will
`appreciate that such components and their interconnection
`are well known. Accordingly, additional details concerning
`the internal construction of the computer 20 need not be
`disclosed in connection with the present invention.
`
`[0033] Those skilled in the art will understand that pro-
`gram modules such as the operating system 46, the appli-
`cation programs 48 and data 52 are provided to the computer
`20 via one of its memory storage devices, which may
`include ROM 28, RAM 30, hard disk drive 34, magnetic
`disk drive 38, or optical disk device 42. The hard disk drive
`34 is used to store data 52 and the programs, including the
`operating system 46 and application programs48.
`
`[0034] When the computer 20 is turncd on orresct, the
`BIOS 32, which is stored in ROM instructs the processing
`unit 22 to load the operating system from the hard disk drive
`34 into the RAM 30. Once the operating system 46 is loaded
`into RAM 30, the processing unit executes the operating
`system code and causes the visual elements associated with
`the uscrinterface of the operating system to be displayed on
`
`

`

`US 2002/0140743 Al
`
`Oct. 3, 2002
`
`the monitor 61. When an application program 48 is opened
`by a user, the program code and relevant data are read from
`the hard disk drive and stored in RAM 38.
`
`[0035] As is appreciated by those skilled in the art, the
`World Wide Web (WWW)is a vast collection of intercon-
`nected or “hypertext” documents written in HyperText
`Markup Language (HTML)or other markup languages,that
`are electronically stored at WWW sites throughout
`the
`Internet. A WWW site is a server connected to the Internet
`
`that has mass storage facilities for storing hypertext docu-
`ments and that runs administrative software for handling
`requests for those stored hypertext documents. A hypertext
`document normally includes a number of hyperlinks that
`maybe identified in various ways(e.g., highlighted portions
`of text) which link the document to other hypertext docu-
`ments possibly stored at a WWW sitc clsewhcre on the
`Internet. Each hyperlink is associated with a Uniform
`Resource T.ocator (URT.) and provides the exact location of
`the linked document on a server connected to the Internet
`
`and describes the document. Thus, whenever a hypertext
`documentis retrieved from any WWW server, the document
`is considered to be retrieved from the WWW.As is known
`
`to those skilled in the art, a WWWserver mayalso includes
`facilities for storing and transmitting application programs,
`which is application programs written in the JAVA™ pro-
`gramming language from Sun Microsystems, for execution
`on a remote computer. Likewise a WWWserver mayalso
`include facilities for executing scripts or other application
`programs on the WWW serveritself.
`
`[0036] A consumer or other remote user may retrieve
`hypertext documents fram the WWW via a WWW browser
`application program. The WWW browser is a software
`application program for providing a graphicaluser interface
`to the WWW. Upon request from the consumer via the
`WWW browser,
`the browser accesses and retrieves the
`desired hypertext document from the appropriate WWW
`server using the URL for the document and a protocol
`knownas a HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP). HTTPis
`a higher-level protocol than TCP/IP and is designed specifi-
`cally for the requirements of the WWW.It is used on top of
`TCP/IPto transfer hypertext documents between servers and
`clicnts. The WWW browscr may also retricve application
`programs from the WWW server, such as JAVA™applets,
`for execution on the client computer.
`
`[0037] The present application relates to a system and
`method for facilitating the implementation of a group of
`actions on multiple computing devices via a single manipu-
`lation of a computing device control interface. Specifically,
`an aspect of the present invention relates to the creation of
`a graphical icon representative of actions to be executed by
`a group of servers in an enterprise network. Additionally,
`another aspect of the present invention relates to the execu-
`tion of the grouped actions by the group of servers in an
`enterprise network and the creation of an executable file for
`repeated execution of the actions by the group of servers
`and/or the modification actions/group of servers. One skilled
`in the relevant art will appreciate that the present invention
`is not limited to its application to server computers in an
`enterprise network and that
`the disclosed embodiment
`should not be construed as limiting.
`
`[0038] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrative of an enter-
`prise network 70 suitable for implementing a common
`
`interface in accordance with the present
`server control
`invention. With reference to FIG.1, the enterprise network
`70 includes one or more server control computers 72 for
`providing a common server control user interface. In an
`illustrative embodiment of the present invention, a server
`control computer 72 includes graphical user
`interface
`(“GUT”) component 74 for providing a server control GUTto
`capture a set of user specified tasks to be implemented on a
`set of user specified server computers. ‘he server control
`computer 72 also includes a template engine component 76
`for encoding and transmitting the user specified tasks to the
`specified group of servers. The server control computer 72
`further includes a script engine component 78 for embody-
`ing the implementation of the user specified tasks on a group
`of servers in an executable file. A more detailed description
`of the GUI component 74, the template engine component
`76 and the script engine component 78 will be described
`below. Although only one server control computeris illus-
`trated, one skilled in the relevant art will appreciate that an
`enterprise network 70 may include any numberof server
`control computers.
`
`[0039] The server control computer 72 is connected via a
`network connection to a group of server computers. In an
`illustrative embodiment of the present invention, the server
`control computer 72 mayutilize an external, public network
`connection, such as the Internet 80. Alternatively, the server
`control computer mayutilize an Intranet, or dedicated exter-
`nal network connection to communicate with the server
`computers. As illustrated in FIG. 1, an enterprise network
`can include a collection of server computers, such as data-
`base servers 82 (“DS”), application servers 84 (“AS”), and
`client servers 86 (“CS”). Each server computer may be
`connected directly to the network, Internet 80. Alternatively,
`as illustrated in FIG. 1 at 85, one or more server computers
`may be connected indirectly to the network 80 via another
`server computer. Additionally, the server computers may be
`grouped together according to a classification, such as the
`function of the server computer or the geographiclocation of
`the server. Accordingly, the server computers may be geo-
`graphically remote from one another. One skilled in the
`relevant art will appreciate, however,
`that
`the enterprise
`network can include additional specialized server comput-
`ers, or multi-purpose server computers.
`
`invention relates to the
`the present
`In general,
`[0040]
`ability to manage one or more server computer systems in
`the e